Rep. Salinas Hosts Roundtable to Discuss Republican Cuts to SNAP and Efforts to Fight Hunger
Salem, OR – Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) held a roundtable to highlight the devastating impact the recently passed Republican budget will have on SNAP and other efforts to fight hunger in Oregon.
“Republicans passed a budget that prioritizes tax breaks for billionaires over food for children, seniors, and veterans,” said Rep. Salinas. “Without SNAP, families will be forced to make impossible choices between groceries and rent, or medication and meals. This bill doesn’t just strip food assistance away from those who need it most. It also hurts the farmers who grow our food and the grocery workers who help put it on the shelves. While Republicans are siding with billionaires, I’ll keep fighting for families to ensure they can put food on the table.”
Currently SNAP serves 740,000—or one in six—Oregonians each month, and H.R. 1, also known as the “Big, Ugly Bill,” could leave children, veterans, and seniors hungry and with nowhere to turn. The roundtable brought together a local SNAP recipient, farmers, and local food security advocates, including representatives from Oregon Hunger and Fresh n’ Local Foods. Together, they shared their stories and perspectives on how the Republican budget will hurt Oregonians.
The Republican budget slashes almost $200 billion from SNAP nationally, threatening benefits for more than 42 million Americans. The cuts would saddle Oregon’s state budget with an estimated $850 million in additional costs and undermine school meal programs and local food banks.
Congresswoman Salinas also used the event to highlight her legislative efforts to fight hunger and support SNAP recipients, including:
- A bill to strengthen the USDA’s ability to buy food directly from Oregon’s small family farms for distribution to food banks;
- Legislation to improve workforce training programs for SNAP beneficiaries; and
- Ongoing work to lower costs across the board—from groceries and energy to health care and housing.
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